What is the average HVAC salary in Hilo, Hawaii?

The median HVAC technician salary in Hilo, Hawaii is $59,945 per year, estimated from BLS OEWS 2024 metro-area data (SOC 49-9021). The middle 50% of technicians in the area earn between $44,359 and $79,727 annually.

How does Hilo HVAC pay compare to the Hawaii average?

Hilo HVAC technicians earn $59,945/year, which is $3,155 below the Hawaii state median of $63,100 (-5%).

What certifications increase HVAC pay in Hilo?

The highest-value certifications for HVAC technicians in Hilo are: NATE Certified (+$8,500/yr, raising pay to ~$68,445), State Journeyman License (+$4,200/yr), EPA 608 Universal (+$3,500/yr), and OSHA 30 (+$2,000/yr for commercial contract access).

Hilo, Hawaii · HVAC Technician Salary

$59,945/year

Median annual salary for HVAC mechanics and installers in Hilo, Hawaii, estimated from BLS OEWS 2024 metro-area data (SOC 49-9021). Salaries range from $44,359 at the 25th percentile to $79,727 at the 75th.

25th Percentile

$44,359

Median

$59,945

75th Percentile

$79,727

vs. State Median

-5%

Salary by Experience Level in Hilo

Level	Experience	Est. Annual	Est. Hourly
Apprentice / Helper 0–2 yrs Will train; EPA 608 not yet required	0–2 yrs	$41,962	$20/hr
Junior Tech 2–5 yrs EPA 608 Universal typically obtained	2–5 yrs	$52,752	$25/hr
Journeymanmedian 5–10 yrs Median — baseline for this city	5–10 yrs

Level

Est. Annual

Apprentice / Helper

0–2 yrs

Will train; EPA 608 not yet required

$41,962

Junior Tech

2–5 yrs

EPA 608 Universal typically obtained

$52,752

Journeymanmedian

5–10 yrs

Median — baseline for this city

Live Job Market in Hilo

No active HVAC listings in Hilo right now.

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Certification Pay Premium in Hilo

EPA 608 Universal+$3,500/yr

Required for any refrigerant work; universal vs. type-specific adds ~$1K

With cert: ~$63,445/yr

NATE Certified+$8,500/yr

Fewer than 10% of techs hold NATE — scarcity drives the premium

With cert: ~$68,445/yr

State Journeyman License+$4,200/yr

Required in ~30 states; often the ceiling without it

With cert: ~$64,145/yr

OSHA 30+$2,000/yr

Opens commercial and government service contracts

Salary by Specialization in Hilo

Specialization	Est. Median	vs. Residential
Residential Service Baseline — most common role in the area	$59,945	baseline
Commercial HVAC RTUs, chillers, AHUs — more system complexity	$68,337	+14%
Refrigeration Supermarket and cold-chain specialists command a consistent premium	$70,735	+18%
Controls / BMS Building automation is the highest-paying specialty by a wide margin	$79,127

How Hilo Compares

vs. Hawaii Median

State median: $63,100/yr

-5% (-$3,155)

vs. National Median

National: $54,228/yr

+11% (+$5,717)

Honolulu

Est. median: $70,672/yr

+$10,727

Kailua

Est. median: $68,148/yr

+$8,203

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Data Sources

City salary estimate derived from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2024 metro-area data (SOC 49-9021) with metro-area wage adjustment factors. Certification premiums from ACCA contractor salary survey 2024. Live listing data from HVACJobs.IO employer-posted positions with verified salary ranges.

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Other cities in Hawaii:

Honolulu — $70,672 Kailua — $68,148 Kapolei — $66,886 ← Hawaii overview

Data source: BLS OEWS 2024, SOC 49-9021 · Metro-area adjustment applied · Last updated 2026